Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

An information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention performs intervention using a negative incentive in a program, the information processing device comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires questionnaire data including a question allowing the measurement of the current bias of a user; a first determination unit that determines the degree of the current bias of the user on the basis of the questionnaire data; a second determination unit that determines the length of a term, a period in which a reward for the incentive is determined, on the basis of the current bias; and a calculation unit that calculates, on the basis of the term, an initial grant incentive granted at the start of the program.

Description

Information processing device, information processing method, and program

[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program.

[0002] For some people, it is difficult to maintain daily activities such as exercise or studying solely through their own willpower, and they may give up on continuing these activities even when they are necessary. Therefore, interventions using monetary incentives are being implemented to help people continue these activities.

[0003] Non-patent document 1 describes an experimental program that uses monetary incentives to encourage healthy behaviors, and the following three incentive programs were designed and experimented with: • Program with positive incentives: A fixed amount of incentive is given each time a task is completed. No incentive is given if the task is not completed. • Program with lottery-based incentives: The amount of incentive is determined and given by lottery if the task is completed. No incentive is given if the task is not completed. • Program with negative incentives: The previously given incentive is maintained if the task is completed. A fixed amount of incentive is forfeited each time a task is not completed.

[0004] The results showed that the program using negative incentives was the most effective in promoting healthy behaviors. Non-patent document 2 also claims that program using negative incentives increased task completion rates.

[0005] From here on, we will focus on interventions using negative incentives, and list their characteristics. There are three characteristics: (1) A lump sum of incentive is given at the beginning of the period in which the amount of incentive is determined (hereinafter referred to as a term) (hereinafter referred to as the initial incentive). (2) When a task is assigned in the program, the participant is presented with a provisional incentive (the initial incentive is maintained or reduced; hereinafter referred to as the provisional incentive) and a negative incentive. (3) If the task is completed, the provisional incentive is maintained, but if the task is not completed, the negative incentive is forfeited from the provisional incentive. When a term ends, a new term begins, and the process from (1) is repeated.

[0006] Mitesh S. Patel et al., “Framing Financial Incentives to Increase Physical Activity Among Overweight and Obese Adults”, Annals of Internal Medicine, Vol. 164, issue 6, p.385-394, March 15, 2016Neel P. Chokshi et al., “Loss‐Framed Financial Incentives and Personalized Goal‐Setting to Increase Physical Activity Among Ischemic Heart Disease Patients Using Wearable Devices: The ACTIVE REWARD Randomized Trial”, Journal of the American Heart Association, Vol. 7, No. 12, June 9, 2018Hengchen Dai et al., “The Fresh Start Effect: Temporal Landmarks Motivate Aspirational Behavior”, Management Science, Vol. 60, No. 10, p. 2563-2582, Jun 23, 2014Woohyeok Choi & Uichin Lee, “Loss-Framed Adaptive Microcontingency Management for Preventing Prolonged Sedentariness: Development and Feasibility Study”, JMIR mHealth and uHealth, Vol 11, Jan 27,2023

[0007] Since both Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2 conclude that program using negative incentives increased task completion rates, it can be said that programs using negative incentives are a powerful intervention among incentive-based intervention methods.

[0008] Two key features of a program using negative incentives are the amount of initial incentive and the term length. Due to budget constraints, these two factors are related in that longer terms result in larger initial incentives, while shorter terms result in smaller initial incentives.

[0009] Regarding the term, previous studies have shown that Non-Patent Document 1 sets the term to 28 days, while Non-Patent Document 2 sets the term to one week, taking into account the fresh-start effect suggested in Non-Patent Document 3. Furthermore, Non-Patent Document 4 sets the term to one day. The differences in each term can be seen as differences in the initial incentive provided, but since Non-Patent Documents 1, 2, and 4 differ in initial incentives, experimental period, and total incentive amount, it is not possible to discuss the impact of the amount of initial incentive on the task completion rate.

[0010] The amount of initial incentive given to increase task completion rates is thought to depend on an individual's psychological characteristics, but no intervention measures that take this into account currently exist.

[0011] This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its objective is to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that can implement incentive strategies that take into account the psychological characteristics of users.

[0012] An information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention is an information processing device that performs an intervention using negative incentives in a program, comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires questionnaire data including questions that can measure the user's current bias; a first determination unit that determines the degree of the user's current bias based on the questionnaire data; a second determination unit that determines the length of a term, which is the period during which the incentive reward is determined, based on the current bias; and a calculation unit that calculates an initial incentive to be given at the start of the program based on the term.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that can implement incentive strategies that take into account the psychological characteristics of users.

[0014] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing device. Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the information processing device. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a questionnaire. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a questionnaire. Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the processing of the current bias determination unit. Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the processing of the term determination unit.

[0015] Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments shown below are illustrative examples of devices and methods for realizing the technical concept of the present invention, and the technical concept of the present invention is not defined by the shape, structure, arrangement, etc. of the components. Each functional block can be realized as hardware, software, or a combination of both. It is not essential that each functional block is distinguished as in the following example. For example, some functions may be performed by functional blocks other than the illustrative functional blocks. Furthermore, the illustrative functional blocks may be further divided into finer functional subblocks. In the following description, elements having the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0016] [1] Configuration of the Information Processing Device 1 The embodiment of the present invention relates to behavioral promotion using a negative incentive, which is a type of intervention that uses monetary incentives, in which a predetermined amount of incentive is given in advance and the predetermined amount of incentive is forfeited when the task is failed.

[0017] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an information processing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing device 1 comprises a control unit 10, a storage unit 20, and an input / output interface unit (input / output I / F unit) 30.

[0018] The control unit 10 controls the operation of the entire information processing device 1. The control unit 10 includes an acquisition unit 11, a current bias determination unit 12, a term determination unit 13, an incentive calculation unit 14, and a processing unit 15.

[0019] The acquisition unit 11 acquires questionnaire data to measure the degree of the user's present bias. The questionnaire data includes questions and answers that allow for the measurement of time-inconsistent discount rates between the present and the future.

[0020] The current bias determination unit 12 uses the survey data to determine the degree of current bias for each user.

[0021] The term determination unit 13 determines the length of the term using the determined current bias and the term determination rule. A term is the period from when the initial incentive is given until the reward for the incentive is determined. The incentive includes both monetary and non-monetary incentives. The term determination rule shows the correspondence between multiple numerical ranges and multiple periods in the current bias.

[0022] The incentive calculation unit 14 calculates the initial incentive using the determined term. The initial incentive is the incentive given at the beginning of the term.

[0023] The processing unit 15 uses the term and the initial incentive to execute a predetermined program that uses a negative incentive.

[0024] The storage unit 20 stores various data necessary for the operation of the information processing device 1. The storage unit 20 includes a questionnaire data storage unit 21 and a term determination rule storage unit 22. The questionnaire data storage unit 21 stores questionnaire data acquired by the acquisition unit 11. The term determination rule storage unit 22 stores term determination rules.

[0025] The input / output interface unit 30 is connected to the input device 2 and the output device 3. The input device 2 includes, for example, a keyboard and a mouse. The output device 3 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display device or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display device. The input / output interface unit 30 performs interface processing on the input device 2 and the output device 3 according to a predetermined standard.

[0026] (Hardware configuration of the information processing device 1) Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing device 1.

[0027] The information processing device 1 can be configured using a computer. The information processing device 1 comprises a processor 40, a data storage unit 41, a program storage unit 42, a communication interface unit (communication I / F unit) 43, and an input / output interface unit (input / output I / F unit) 30. The data storage unit 41, the program storage unit 42, the communication interface unit 43, and the input / output interface unit 30 are connected to the processor 40 via a bus 44.

[0028] The processor 40 consists of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), and the like. The processor 40 executes the operations of the control unit 10 described above.

[0029] The program storage unit 42 includes, for example, a non-volatile memory that can be written to and read at any time, such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive), and a non-volatile memory such as ROM (Read Only Memory). The program storage unit 42 stores the programs necessary for the processor 40 to perform various processes according to this embodiment. That is, the acquisition unit 11, the current bias determination unit 12, the term determination unit 13, the incentive calculation unit 14, and the processing unit 15 described above are realized by having the processor 40 execute the programs stored in the program storage unit 42.

[0030] The data storage unit 41 includes, for example, a non-volatile memory such as an HDD or SSD, and a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory). The data storage unit 41 is also used as a working area for storing various data acquired and created in the process of the processor 40 executing various processes. The data storage unit 41 is configured to include the aforementioned questionnaire data storage unit 21 and the term determination rule storage unit 22.

[0031] The communication interface unit 43 includes a wired communication module and / or a wireless communication module. The wireless communication module includes a wireless LAN (Local Area Network). The communication interface unit 43 executes interface processing according to a predetermined communication standard with an external device. The communication interface unit 43 can receive information from an external device and transmit information to the external device.

[0032] An input device 2 and an output device 3 are connected to the input / output interface unit 30. Note that the information processing device 1 may be configured to include the input device 2 and the output device 3.

[0033] [2] Operation Next, the operation of the information processing device 1 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the information processing device 1.

[0034] In this embodiment, as a psychological characteristic of the user, in behavioral economics, present bias, which is one of the cognitive biases used to explain human irrational judgment, is considered. A person with a strong present bias is a person who makes time-inconsistent discounting, is impatient with respect to the present, but the degree of impatience weakens with respect to the future, so there is a tendency for plans to fail easily. In order to measure the degree of the user's present bias, a questionnaire is conducted on the user, and the questionnaire data obtained from this questionnaire is used.

[0035] The acquisition unit 11 acquires questionnaire data for measuring the degree of the user's current bias (step S100). The acquisition unit 11 stores the acquired questionnaire data in the questionnaire data storage unit 21. For a plurality of users, have them answer a questionnaire for measuring the current bias and collect data. Denote the user as "i" and the number of users as "i = 1,..., N". For the questionnaire, for example, Questions A4 and A5 of Non-Patent Document 5 are used.

[0036] Non-Patent Document 5: Osaka University, "Questionnaire on Preferences and Satisfaction of Life", https: / / www.iser.osaka-u.ac.jp / survey_data / doc / japan / questionnaire / japanese / 2023QuestionnaireJAPAN.pdf Note that the questionnaire for measuring the degree of the user's current bias is not limited to the above. Other questionnaires capable of measuring the degree of current bias can be used.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of a questionnaire. Question A4 shown in FIG. 4 is "You have received a certain amount of money. You can receive it today or in 7 days, but the amount is different". Question A4 includes combinations 1 to 9. In each of combinations 1 to 9, today is option "A" and 7 days later is option "B". The amounts of money for option "A" and option "B" are different. Question A4 is a question based on the present.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of a questionnaire. Question A5 shown in FIG. 5 is "You have received a certain amount of money. You can receive it in 90 days or in 97 days, but the amount is different". Question A5 includes combinations 1 to 9. In each of combinations 1 to 9, 90 days later is option "A" and 97 days later is option "B". The amounts of money for option "A" and option "B" are different. Question A5 is a question based on the future (90 days later).

[0039] Questions A4 and A5 have the same 7-day difference in the dates when options A and B are received, and the annual interest rates are the same. Questions A4 and A5 allow us to measure how much the amount 7 days from today is discounted over time, and the degree of time 90 and 97 days later can be measured using the annual interest rate. This degree of discounting of rewards over time is called the time discount rate, and the annual interest rate in the questions corresponds to the time discount rate. The above questionnaire is structured to include questions that allow for the measurement of the time discount rate and the degree of present bias.

[0040] Next, the current bias determination unit 12 reads the survey data from the survey data storage unit 21 (step S101). The survey data includes responses from multiple users.

[0041] Next, the current bias determination unit 12 uses the survey data to determine the degree of current bias for each user (step S102). Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the processing of the current bias determination unit 12. Specifically, the current bias determination unit 12 calculates the annual interest rate for each combination in question A4 and question A5 and sorts them in ascending order. The current bias determination unit 12 determines that the current bias is weak if the point at which the choices changed between question A4 and question A5 are the same. On the other hand, the current bias determination unit 12 determines that the current bias is strong if the point at which the choices changed between question A4 and question A5 is smaller in question A5 than in question A4. The point at which the choices changed refers to the point at which the choices in the question changed from "A" to "B".

[0042] Specifically, if the time discount rate for question A5 (distant future) is lower than the time discount rate for question A4 (near future), that is, if the annual interest rate when the option switches from "A" to "B" is lower in question A5 than in question A4, then the present bias is judged to be strong because time-inconsistent discounting is being applied, with the near future being discounted more and the distant future being discounted less. On the other hand, if the same time discount rate is shown for both question A4 and question A5, then time-inconsistent discounting is being applied, and the present bias is judged to be weak. However, if there is no point in time when the options change between question A4 and question A5, then the present bias will be judged to be weak.

[0043] Next, the current bias determination unit 12 calculates the current bias value (step S103). The current bias value is referred to as the current bias value. The current bias value is defined as shown in equation (1).

[0044] Current bias value = "the higher annual interest rate at the point where the options changed in question A4" / "the higher annual interest rate at the point where the options changed in question A5" ... (1) For example, if the point where the options changed in question A4 is the point where the annual interest rate changed from 15% to 50%, then the annual interest rate used in the definition of the current bias value is 50%. "The higher annual interest rate at the point where the options changed in question A4" corresponds to the current time discount rate, and "the higher annual interest rate at the point where the options changed in question A5" corresponds to the future time discount rate.

[0045] B is the current bias value for each user. ｉ Let's assume that "i" is the number that identifies the user mentioned above. Current bias value B ｉ The current bias strength value B is calculated using formula (1). ｉ An example is shown in Table 1. Current bias value B ｉ The lower limit is 1 and the upper limit is 50.

[0046]

[0047] Next, the term determination unit 13 determines the length of the term using the current bias value calculated in step S103 and the term determination rules stored in the term determination rule storage unit 22 (step S104). Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the processing of the term determination unit 13. The term determination unit 13 makes the term longer as the current bias value increases.

[0048] In the term determination rules, if the bias is currently weak, the term will be set to, for example, one week (hereinafter referred to as short term), taking into account the fresh start effect shown in Non-Patent Document 3. The fresh start effect is the phenomenon in which setting goals at milestones such as the new year, the beginning of the month, or one's birthday increases motivation and the rate of goal achievement.

[0049] On the other hand, when the current bias is strong, although one will be hasty in the near future, the degree of haste will decrease in the future. Therefore, in the framework of negative incentives where incentives are obtained at hand at the beginning of the term, the value of the initially granted incentives is hardly discounted. However, for the incentives that are determined at the end of the term, their value will be discounted. Therefore, by increasing the amount of the initially granted incentives accordingly, sufficient motivation can be achieved. That is, by lengthening the term, the amount of the initially granted incentives is increased. Depending on the magnitude of the current bias value (the strength of the current bias), the term is divided into two types: a medium term and a long term.

[0050] As an example, set a term determination rule as shown in Table 2. Even when the current bias is strong, considering the fresh start effect, set it so that the start of the week coincides with the term.

[0051]

[0052] In this embodiment, for example, set two weeks as the medium term and three weeks as the long term. Set the current bias value at the boundary between the medium term and the long term to 10. The range of the current bias value in the medium term is "1 < B ｉ ≤ 10". The range of the current bias value in the long term is "10 < B ｉ ≤ 50". The term determination unit 13 determines the term based on the term determination rule in Table 2.

[0053] Let the term of each user be T ｉ , the short-term term be T short , the medium-term term be T middle , and the long-term term be T long . The term T ｉ is expressed as follows.

[0054]

[0055] The short-term term T short , the medium-term term T middle , and the long-term term T long are such that "T short < T middle < T longThey have the relationship of ".

[0056] Table 3 shows an example of term output using the term determination rules described in Table 2.

[0057]

[0058] Next, the incentive calculation unit 14 calculates the initial incentive using the term determined in step S104 (step S105). The incentive calculation unit 14 calculates the initial incentive so that it increases as the term lengthens. Short term T shor The initial incentive to be given is P short , medium term T middle The initial incentive to be given is P middle , long term T long The initial incentive to be given is P long , then, "P short <P middle <P long They have the relationship of ".

[0059] Next, the processing unit 15 executes a predetermined program using negative incentives, using the term determined by the term determination unit 13 and the initial incentive calculated by the incentive calculation unit 14 (step S106). A program that uses incentives (including negative incentives) is called an incentive program.

[0060] An incentive program using negative incentives may include the following steps (1) to (4): (1) At the start of the incentive program (beginning of the term), a lump sum initial incentive is given. (2) When tasks are assigned within the incentive program, a provisional incentive (the initial incentive maintained or reduced) and a negative incentive are presented. Tasks include work and exercise. (3) If the task is completed, the provisional incentive is maintained, but if the task is not completed, the negative incentive is forfeited from the provisional incentive. (4) When the term ends, a new term begins and the process from (1) is repeated.

[0061] The processing unit 15 outputs information regarding incentive strategies that involve intervention using negative incentives.

[0062] [3] Effects of the Embodiment In this embodiment, the user's current bias is determined, and the amount and term of the initial incentive are set based on the current bias. Then, the incentive program is executed using the amount and term of the initial incentive. Therefore, according to this embodiment, an incentive strategy that takes into account the user's psychological characteristics can be implemented.

[0063] Furthermore, it becomes possible to implement incentive strategies that result in high task completion rates. In addition, cost-effective interventions using negative incentives can be achieved.

[0064] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified in various ways during implementation without departing from its essence. Furthermore, each embodiment may be combined as appropriate, and in that case, the combined effects can be obtained. Moreover, the above embodiments include various inventions, and various inventions can be extracted by selecting combinations from the multiple constituent elements disclosed. For example, if the problem can be solved and effects obtained even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiment, then the configuration with these deleted constituent elements can be extracted as an invention.

[0065] 1... Information processing device 2... Input device 3... Output device 10... Control unit 11... Acquisition unit 12... Current bias determination unit 13... Term determination unit 14... Incentive calculation unit 15... Processing unit 20... Storage unit 21... Questionnaire data storage unit 22... Term determination rule storage unit 30... Input / output interface unit 40... Processor 41... Data storage unit 42... Program storage unit 43... Communication interface unit 44... Bus

Claims

1. An information processing device for performing an intervention using negative incentives in a program, comprising: an acquisition unit for acquiring questionnaire data including questions that can measure the user's current bias; a first determination unit for determining the degree of the user's current bias based on the questionnaire data; a second determination unit for determining the length of a term, which is the period during which the incentive reward is determined, based on the current bias; and a calculation unit for calculating an initial incentive to be given at the start of the program based on the term.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second determination unit lengthens the term as the current bias increases.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit increases the initial incentive as the term lengthens.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit for storing term determination rules that show the correspondence between a plurality of numerical ranges and a plurality of periods in the current bias, wherein the second determination unit sets the term based on the term determination rules.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first determination unit calculates the current time discount rate and the future time discount rate for the user, and determines the degree of the current bias based on the current time discount rate and the future time discount rate.

6. An information processing method for implementing an intervention using negative incentives in a program, comprising: obtaining questionnaire data including questions that can measure the user's current bias; determining the degree of the user's current bias based on the questionnaire data; determining the length of a term, which is the period during which the incentive reward is determined, based on the current bias; and calculating an initial incentive to be given at the start of the program based on the term.

7. A program for causing a computer to function as each part of the information processing device described in any one of claims 1 to 5.

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